How exercising could and should boost your self-confidence

Looking good, feeling strong and having a positive attitude, the attributes of self-esteem and self- confidence, are all benefits of a regular exercise regime.

It’s no secret that regular exercise makes your heart and bones stronger, reduces your risk of chronic disease, lowers blood pressure and helps keeps your weight under control (especially during this festive period). All of this in turn leads to reduced levels of anxiety and depression. With increased energy levels, less aches and pains and increased fitness levels you are more likely to be able to achieve those goals that seemed impossible when you first dreamt of them. It’s that sense of achievement that not only brings you that feeling of excitement and passion for your new lifestyle but that increase in self confidence that makes you believe nothing is impossible.

Smashing those first set of goals that you’ve been trying to achieve for a long time and had your heart set on, whether they are body fat % goals, performance goals or just general health and well-being goals…. Is just the start of what you can go on to achieve. Not just in the gym, but in your work place and family life as well. They all matter.

30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise or just 15 minutes of high intensity exercise is enough to release the beta-endorphins that increase feelings of well-being and lower levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress and anxiety. Exercise has a dramatic anti-depressive effect. It blunts the brain’s response to physical and emotional stress. Endorphins are a group of hormones secreted throughout the brain and body during intense stress or arousal and are part of your “fight-or-flight” response. In general, endorphins can relieve pain, produce feelings of pleasure, reduce stress and increase relaxation. They are your body’s natural pain killers. During intense exercise your body experiences increased levels of stress which in turn triggers the release of endorphins which then stops pain messages from reaching our brains. Endorphins can also help to lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, stabilize our breathing and also restore our body temperatures back to normal. So win win all round.

So set those goals, and let us help you smash them in 2018, no matter how big or small they are. Just want to have something to get excited about again? Or got a new dress to fit into? The gym is the place to go to release that built up anxiety and stress. Nobody ever regrets a workout…. Fact!

If you would like further information about all the services that we offer, give us a call on 01732 451979 or email on enquiries@betterbodygroup.co.uk.